5 Non-Essential Essentials for Your Next Triathlon

1. Race Belt

At every race, you’ll receive safety pins to attach your bib to your clothing. But do you really want to poke holes in your race kit and deal with an awkwardly flapping number? A race belt is a great alternative. Not only does it save you from a pin-prick, but it also allows you to quickly put on your bib without fumbling in transition. Simply clip it around your waist and you’re good to go—no pinning, no hassle.

Many race belts also come with loops or pockets to hold energy gels, making it easier to carry fuel without stuffing your tri suit pockets. Plus, if you need to adjust your bib position for comfort, you can do so mid-race without stopping. A small investment in a race belt can make your transitions and run much more efficient.

Depending on the race, you may not have to wear your bib number on the bike; e.g. you already have a #/sticker on your helmet and bike. So, leave your race belt already clipped and step into the middle and pull it up in place.

Need a race belt with a reflective tag? Xterra Wetsuits has one here: https://www.xterrawetsuits.com/collections/accessories/products/racebelt

2. Towel (or changing mat)

A towel is an underrated piece of gear for your transition area. Lay it out under your bike to define your space and organize your gear for a seamless transition. Some athletes take up more space than necessary, so staking your claim with a towel helps keep things in order.

A brightly colored towel is especially helpful—it makes your transition spot easy to find in the heat of the race. While you may think you’ll remember exactly where you racked your bike, the adrenaline and chaos of T1 and T2 can make it surprisingly difficult to locate. A distinctive towel saves you valuable seconds and prevents unnecessary stress. “Back in the Day” newbie triathletes would actually put a balloon to mark their location. Not you, you have a towel.

In place of a towel, many triathletes use a changing mat. This protects your wetsuit once you exit the water. Xterra wetsuits makes one, and you can find it here: https://www.xterrawetsuits.com/collections/accessories/products/wetsuit-changing-mat

3. Elastic Laces

Speed is everything in transition, and elastic laces help you get in and out of your running shoes quickly. Instead of wasting time tying and retying laces, you simply slip your feet in, pull the laces snug, and you’re off.

Regular laces not only slow you down but also pose the risk of coming undone mid-run—something you definitely don’t want to deal with in a race. Swapping to elastic laces is a simple and inexpensive upgrade that can shave precious seconds off your transition time and keep you focused on your race.

Please practice many miles with your laces on them, plus practice putting them on and off.

4. Energy Gels

Even for shorter triathlons, it’s a good idea to carry an energy gel or two. If you start feeling drained on the bike or during the run, a quick hit of carbohydrates can give you the boost you need to push through to the finish line.

For longer races, a proper nutrition plan is essential, and having easily accessible fuel will keep your energy levels steady. If you plan ahead and use gels strategically, you’ll avoid bonking and maintain a consistent pace throughout the race.

Pro-tip is to always have an energy gel with caffeine as your “emergency gel” on the race course for a little pick me up.

5. Sunscreen

Sunscreen won’t improve your performance, but you’ll regret skipping it when you’re nursing a sunburn after the race. Applying sunscreen before the swim (giving it time to absorb) helps protect your skin without washing off immediately. Keeping a bottle in transition lets you reapply before the bike and run, ensuring all-day protection.

For fast transitions, spray sunscreen is ideal—it’s quick to apply, covers large areas efficiently, and doesn’t require rubbing in. While it might not seem crucial at the start line, preventing painful burns is a smart move for post-race comfort and long-term skin health.

Many triathletes forget to put sunscreen in the small of their backs and end up “cooking” that area exposed to the sun. At larger events, like an Ironman, they’ll have people there to help you put on your sunscreen.

We started out by saying that there are only a few things you absolutely need to race a triathlon: goggles for the swim, a bike and helmet for the ride, and shoes for the run. Of these items, in addition to the above, we should mention that having a spare pair of goggles is brilliant, so we must include Xterra’s Velocity swim goggles perfect for training and racing: https://www.xterrawetsuits.com/products/velocity-clear-swim-goggles

While these five items aren’t strictly necessary to finish a triathlon, they can make your race experience much smoother, more comfortable, and even a little faster. A race belt for convenience, a towel (or changing mat) for organization, elastic laces for speed, energy gels for endurance, and sunscreen for protection are small but impactful additions to your gear bag.